Aldersgate Staff Scholarship - Maddy

This summer's theme of Micah 6:8 has not only made me reflect upon my past, but also

my future as a K-12 music teacher and how justice, mercy, and humility can enhance learning for all. After seeing these principles enacted daily by my supervisors, fellow coworkers, and even the campers, I see not only a personal calling, but a professional strategy in how I want to approach teaching in the future.

After working with the younger age groups for the majority of the summer, there have

been a lot of learning curves. From helping kids learn to share for the first time to making

activities fun and easily accessible to all kids, there have been many times where I have had to stop mid activity and create a totally different approach to things on the spot. At first, these challenges seemed out of the ordinary, as in years past, but years past did not have a global pandemic in the first few years of their lives. COVIDs negative impact on these kids is immense, even if none of them remember it even happening. The way they communicate, confront challenges, and make friends has all changed, and with 3 years of socializing outside of the home cut, it's an everyday struggle. For some kids, this is the first time they have ever interacted with a large group of other children or been away from their parents for more than an hour. It is hard, and I am so proud of them for making an effort to come to camp everyday. However, these challenges make it more important than ever to embrace the principles of Micah 6:8 as we go through camp, work, and life as a whole.

The part of Micah 6:8 that calls to me the most is to “love mercy”. In a world where

perfection and being the best is idolized, the growth mindset is thrown out the window. This

mindset is crucial to providing a supportive environment for everyone. To love mercy means to embrace compassion in everything that you do. From how I respond to mistakes, extend grace, and recognize that each person is navigating their own complex life. It helps me to balance empathy with high expectations, knowing that growth often presents itself through failure, and that there can not be improvement without kindness. The campers respond best to this principle, and some enact it without noticing every day. They are kind to their friends/siblings who are struggling, try their best on new challenges, and ask for help when needed. It looks different in every camper, making it more important than ever for their teachers, parents, and other adults in their life to be able to love mercy too.

As a future music teacher, I will have kids from so many different backgrounds, abilities,

interests, ages, and ethnicities walk through my door, and they all deserve to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are. I strive to create a classroom for them where fairness, respect, and equality are crucial. Acting justly means I advocate for those who may not have the ability to advocate for themselves. It means I will design inclusive lessons for kids who may have an intellectual or developmental disability. It means no culture will be ignored in the classroom, therefore creating a space where community is central. Students cannot grow if they do not feel safe and empowered to do so, so I must act just at all times for them. At camp, being just has meant demonstrating set expectations, forgiveness, and listening to what each camper has to say.

Lastly, to walk humbly with God reminds me that teaching is not about perfection, but

about learning and growing from mistakes. It means admitting when I'm wrong, being open to feedback, and not being afraid to ask others questions on things I do not understand. By

walking humbly, I will center my faith quietly in how I teach, listen, and care, allowing God's

presence to shape how I teach. Even though I most likely will not be placed in a religious

school, these principles will be in every part of my teaching career. It would be nearly impossible to create a healthy, safe, and supportive classroom environment without having this verse to reflect on.

I plan to enact Aldersgate's mission to be a “sacred space, empowering faith and

friendship to change the world” not only in my everyday life, but also in my classroom. The K-12 school experience is where most development happens for kids, and after seeing how the environment of Aldersgate promoted growth, kindness, and fairness throughout the summer, I want to be able to bring that to my future students. Even if there are other situations in their lives that do not give them peace, school can be a safe environment where they can learn, grow, and make friends without judgement or harm.

As I move forward in my career as a teacher, I plan to return to the teachings of both Micah 6:8 and the Aldersgate mission often. It will guide me in everything I do, from building relationships to how I teach and care for each student that enters my classroom. In a perfection, result driven world, this verse revises my goal as an educator, to not just shape minds, but also hearts, with justice, mercy, and humility.

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